Plug-retainer.



J. J. TAYLOR 8: L. K. HOSS.

PLUG RETAINER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1911.

, Patented A r.'25, 1911.

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JOHN J. TAYLOR AND LEROY K. HOSS, 0F CI-IERRYVALE, KANSAS.

PLUG-RETAINER.

Application filed January 24, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN J. TAYLOR and LEROY K. Hoss, citizens of the United States, residing at Cherryvale, in the county of Montgomery and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to telephone exchange switch boards and has for its object to provide a telephone switch board with means whereby the switch plugs may be detached for repair or other purposes by workmen without interfering with the operator of the switch board.

To this end the invention includes a switch plug retainer so constructed and arranged that moved and repaired, and replaced by workmen in such a way as not to interfere with the operator.

The invention further has for its object to provide a retainer for a switch plug which will afford a firm base for the plug to rest upon and will prevent wear, thereby avoiding the dropping of the plug where it is supported in wood.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view in elevation and part section of a telephone exchange switch board provided with means for detaching the switch plugs in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the switch board shown as partly broken away and in section illustrating the construction for supporting an detaching switch plugs. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of a portion of the switch board showing a part of the means for holding a switch plug in place. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view partly broken away, showing a switch plug and socket support constructed in accordance with this invention, and means for removing the switch plug for repair. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view partly in vertical section of a portion of the switch board showing the means for supporting a switch plug.

In the accompanying drawings 1 indicates a switch board having its base portion 2 provided with switch plug sockets 3 in which are located switch plugs 4 provided with the usual cords 5 and weights 6 suspended within the casing of the switch board. Secured to the under side of the base portion 2 of the Specification of Letters Patent.

the switch plugs and cords may be re-.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

Serial No. 604,421.

switch board by means of screws 7 is a metallic plate 8 located adjacent to the lower end of the socket 3 and formed with an open end 9 in alinement with said socket and with a shoulder or shelf-like portion 10 in which is adapted to be detachably seated a short sleeve or tubular ring 11 having an annular flange 12, said flange 12 resting in the shouldered portion 10 of the plate 8 and slidable laterally out of the same so as to move the sleeve or tubular ring 11 laterally out of the lower end of the socket 3. The tubular ring or sleeve 11 is slidably mounted on the cord 5 and when seated within the plate 8 serves as a support for the lower end of the switch plug 4 as more particularly shown in Fig. 2. In order to permit the sleeve 11 to be pushed laterally out of engagement with the plate 8, a diagonal socket 13 is provided having at its lower end an enlarged shoulder portion 14, said socket extending from one side of the socket 3 to the bottom of the base board at an angle to the socket- 3. It will be seen that by means of this construction, the cord 5, may be, when plug has been raised a suitable distance above socket 3, swung over laterally into the diagonal socket 13 carrying with it on the cord 5 the sleeve 11 which, when moved over has its flange 12 seated in the shouldered portion 14 on the inclined socket 13. In order to move the switch plug, and sleeve 11 as aforesaid, a suitable tool is provided consisting of a curved metallic arm 15 having a handle 16 which tool is inserted, as shown in Fig. 4, into the plug socket, the end of the curved arm 15 projecting down into the socket 3 and engaging one side of the switch cord 5; and on pushing the curved arm 15 farther into the socket 3 is brought into engagement with the sleeve 11, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 so as to move the latter over to the bottom of the inclined slot 13, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. In this position the sleeve 11 being free, slips down on cord 5 below the base board 2 and a switch plug can then be dropped out of the socket below the base board 2 by the operator.

It will be seen that by means of this construction one or more switch plugs may be removed by a workman or operator for repair without disturbing the operator at the switch board, and that when the plug is being repaired it can be readily inserted back in place in the socket 3 with the sleeve 11 restored to position in the plate 8 by a workman, from behind the switch board. It will I at its bottom by the be further seen that the plate 8 and the sleeve 11 afford a firm support for the lower end of the switch plug and that the gradual dropping down of the switch plug in posi tion in the socket which takes place where the socket is formed with a wooden support gradual wear of the wood is avoided.

Having described the invention, we claim:

1. In a telephone switch board, a switch plug socket formed with an enlarged lower open end, a metallic plate mounted at the bottom of said socket and at one side thereof, a switch plug a sleeve mounted on the switch cord and detachably engaging said supporting plate and movable laterally out of engagement therewith to permit the switch plug to drop through said socket.

2. In a telephone switch board, a switch plug socket, a diagonal passageway com municating with said socket and opening at its lower end into the lower end of said socket, an apertured plate mounted at the lower end of the plug socket, a switch pin and a flanged sleeve mounted on the switch cord and on said plate and movable laterally out of engagement therewith to permit the switch plug to be dropped down out of en gagement with its socket.

3. In a telephone switch board, a vertical plug socket provided with a diagonal passageway and communicating with the lower end of said socket and formed with a lower shouldered end, a plate secured adjacent to the lower end of said plug socket having an opening open at one side adjacent to the lower end of said diagonal passageway, a

switch plug, a sleeve slidably mounted on the switch cord and having an annular flange at its lower end and movable laterally out of engagement therewith to release the switch plug and permit it to be dropped down through the socket and hole in the lower plate.

4. In a telephone plug socket slightly wider than the switch plug and a diagonal passageway extending to one side of said socket and formed with an enlarged shouldered lower end opening into the lower end of plate secured about the lower end of said plug socket and having an opening for the passage of a plug cord, said opening being open at one end adjacent to the lower end of said diagonal formed with a shouldered recess about its opening, a switch plug, a tubular sleeve slid ably mounted on the switch cord and having an annular flange at its lower end located in said shouldered recess of said plate, the 60 switch plug resting on the top of said sleeve and the latter movable laterally with said plug and its cord out of engagement with the support at the end of the plug socket and movable downward out of engagement with 65 the diagonal passageway.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. TAYLOR. LEROY K. HOSS.

lVitnesses F. C. OEHLER, D. D. APPLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). C.

resting on said plate 4 switch board, a switch said plug socket, a

passageway, said plate being 

